/Too easily impressed- (22-23) "when she did little but smile and be courteous to other men. He is even jealous of "the white mule/She rode with round the terrace- (28-29). The Duke haughtily looks down upon those whom she blushed to, calling an "officious fool- (27) the man who broke a bough of cherries for her. He disliked her "blushing- with other men because he wanted her to be his perfect, idealized picture of a submissive wife whom he could control. The Duke continues to have a feeling of ownership over even the memory of his deceased wife. He covers the beautiful portrait of his wife with a curtain, "since none puts by/ The curtain I have drawn for you, but I- (9-10), showing her smile to only those he approved. He became sick of her perpetual disobedience according to his unreasonable standards, so he presumably ordered her death. He had her portrait done just before so that she would become his ever-compliant possession. In this way, he could choose the people she could look at, and no longer would "that spot/Of joy into the Duchess' cheek- (14-15) at the mere sight of strangers. His obsession with control is symbolized by the statue of Neptune (Poseidon) taming a seahorse which he gleefully points out at the end of the monologue. In this case he sees himself as Neptune and the Duchess as the seahorse, only one of many in the sea for him to control.
The Duke is forceful and relentless, sometimes mercilessly and illegally carrying out his will with utter disregard toward others. He became so enraged by his wife's antics that he "gave commands;/Then all smiles stopped together- (45-46). The Duchess' smiles were stopped because she is now dead "" There she stands/As if alive- (46-47). The power-hungry dominator had his wife killed because he couldn't possess her completely.
The Duke is filled with pride. He wouldn't even have a conversation with his wife as he would not lower himself to her level.
